The weather was good that afternoon, with a warm afternoon sun. This kind of lovely weather is really welcomed, especially in a harbor town like Tengdong, one of the biggest harbor town in Su. The contrasting scenery of a vast blue ocean in one side, and a bustling city in the other. The city is full of tall buildings, some of them are inns for weary adventurers to rest, others are shops that sells many kinds of items. The cries of seagulls can be heard in between the calm sound of waves.

  Other than the big shops, there are also merchant stalls at the side of the road, they show off their wares under a brown tent, be it fresh ocean products like fish, clams, and crabs, or maybe even spices and fabrics from across the sea. The activity at the harbor never seems to stop, there are traders and merchants unloading their ships and opening their crates. Or just passenger ships that carry adventurers or tourists to Su.

  One ship of that kind just lowers its anchor at the port, and the passengers are walking down the wooden bridge that connects the ship to the port. One of them is a rabbit beastkin from Rexa, her fur is almost completely black with only a small patch on her head is white, made it look almost like a short hair. She wears a green tunic and a white short pants, and a small black jacket on top of the tunic, her waist belt is adorned with small pouches and a pair of short swords.

  That female beastkin walks down the road at the harbor, ignoring the street merchants who are shouting at the incoming travelers, trying their best to sell their wares. She keeps walking down the main road to the town gate. Before she reach the main gate, someone called her from an alleyway to her right. It’s an old man sitting by a house, his clothes are tattered, his hairs are dirty and messy, there are several small pouches strapped on his waist and he’s holding a walking stick.

  Beggar: Young lady over there, please… can you spare some money for an old man like me?

  The rabbit beastkin ignored the beggar, she keeps on walking.

  Beggar: Please… just a small coin… a small coin would do.

  The beastkin lady stopped in her tracks, then turn around and approaches the beggar. She reaches for her pouch, picks a coin and then hands it to the beggar.

  Beggar: Thank you… thank you so much. If it’s not too much I have one question for you, young lady… what are you, a top spy from The Watchers In The Dark, doing in Brirene... Solicia Kharlid?

  Solicia: So you knew my identity already? I’m surprised the Beggar Sect can gather information even from outside of Su.

  Beggar: Oh, we have our ways. By the way let me introduce myself, I am Liao Min, one of the elders of The Beggar Sect.

  Solicia: You already knew my name, so I’ll just tell you the reason I’m here. We have reasons to believe that Brirene is planning to do something in Su, that’s why I’m here to observe. I’m not supposed to interfere, unless the situation forces me.

  Liao Min: Let me give you an information… A general from Brirene already stole one of the Dragon Skulls, a very important relic. She’s now going for the other 9 skulls, if you can catch up to her, maybe you’ll get some answers.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Solicia: Catch up to her? How am I supposed to do that?

  Liao Min: I have a map here, I have marked locations that our historians think to be the possible places of where the ruins could be. You can start your search there.

  Liao Min hands an old map to Solicia, which she stores in her backpack.

  Solicia: I’m really grateful for this, but why are you telling me this? This is a big favor you’re doing for me, why are you doing this?

  Liao Min: We have spotted The Shadow Master again, ever since we lost track of him a few years ago. He was at the border between Su and Brirene, and we’re afraid his loyal armies are going to attack Su, if they haven’t infiltrated us already.

  Solicia: Ah, I understand now. You’re afraid he’s going to stage a rebellion against the current emperor, so The Beggar Sect is going to be on the lookout for him.

  Liao Min: Yes, we cannot deal with two problems at once. So, we ask your assistance in finding out what Brirene is planning, while we’re scanning the empire for where The Shadow Master could be hiding.

  Solicia: I understand, one day The Watchers will return the favor.

  Solicia straightened, ears twitching after she receives that information from Liao Min. His voice had been low and ragged, but the information he passed carries weight. Without a word, she turns away. Her boots crunched against the gravel path as she steps away from the shadowed alleyway into the sunlit road. Liao Min melts in the shadows, vanishing as if he was never there.

  Ahead, Tengdong’s gate rose tall and withered, its iron-wood bar gleaming in the afternoon light. Merchants and travelers stream through, their chatter blends with the creak of wagons. It is Solicia’s first time in Su, and the land beyond the gate is so foreign to her, she can only rely on the information that Liao Min generously shared with her.

  Several hours has passed as the sun is now leaning closer to the horizon. Solicia was stopping under a tree, preparing to camp when her ear twitches as she catches the sound of several people approaching. Sensing danger, her hands reach for her swords.

  Solicia: Who’s there?

  Three men emerges from the shadows, their face are covered with a scarf and each of them hold a short sword on their hand.

  Solicia: A common thug, huh? If you think I’m an easy prey to steal from, you are mistaken.

  One man lunges toward her and slash at her, Solicia jumps one step back to avoid that attack and then jumps forward while slashing her sword. She hit her opponent at his vital spot, and killed him instantly.

  The second man strikes at her twice, Solicia ducks and jumps to the side to evade them. She returns the slashes and made a cut this guy’s arm.

  The third guy opens his right palm and he shoots out a stream of high-pressure water at Solicia, she jumps up high to avoid it and coming down with a downward slash. That slash made a deep wound at the vital spot and killed him.

  One man left, Solicia quickly slashes at him with one sword. He blocks that attack but she continues with the second slash that cuts a deep wound in his stomach, killing him.

  Solicia cleans her blade and sheathe them again.

  Solicia: The moves that they were using… that’s a Dragon Fist martial arts that I read in the reports, but… something feels different than the normal one. It has a more… sinister aura. Is it because of their intent to kill, or something else?

  She investigates the body of each man, and when she searches the third man, she found that all of them had a black dragon brooch on their clothes. The brooch is small and not really noticeable in the dark, but she recognizes the brooch.

  Solicia: This is the logo of the Shadow Master’s army. Why are his army here? And why are there only three of them? Unless…

  At that time Solicia understands the Shadow Master’s strategy.

  Solicia: He sent his men to Su in small units so they won’t be noticed, but after the men infiltrated Su, they have to survive on their own until it’s time to attack. Just how many of them in Su, already?

  Solicia’s intention is only to observe, but after this she wonders if she can stay uninvolved with the situation in Su.